Aviation Accidents & Wrongful Death Lawsuits

| August 25, 2016

Colorado Plane Crashes and Negligence

It is hard to imagine a tragedy worse than an Airplane Crash. One of the most difficult things for families trying to cope with such a tragedy is the process of attempting to find out what really happened. After a plane crash, the victims’ families will learn that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the agency in charge of investigating these incidents, invites only those parties whose products were involved into their investigation – like the operators, manufactures, maintenance facilities, and others – and excludes the families who have been harmed or who have lost loved ones from the investigation process. At Bachus & Schanker, LLC in Colorado, our experienced Aviation accident attorneys can help the families of plane crash victims.

Plane Crash Causes

An Aviation accident may be caused by pilot error, equipment malfunction, defective parts, faulty maintenance, or poorly designed aircraft. Most airplane or helicopter crashes involve privately-owned and operated aircraft, not commercial aircraft. Unlike the major airlines or commercial aircraft companies, private aviators only have to use reasonable care towards passengers to prevent injury rather than the heightened professional standard of care that most commercial carriers have to use. Therefore, the federal regulations and safety standards in place for large commercial aircraft do not apply to smaller general Aviation operators. While pilots of both private and commercial flights have to operate the aircraft with the skill of an ordinary, qualified pilot for that particular aircraft, the maintenance requirements, inspection duties, training requirements, and safety measures for each aircraft may be different and may contribute to the higher number of private plane crashes. Litigation involving airplane and helicopter crashes can be very complex and will often involve numerous parties. Therefore, it is critical to consult with the experienced team at Bachus & Schanker, LLC in Colorado immediately upon learning of a plane crash. Our Aviation accident attorneys can help individuals throughout the country determine what factors caused or contributed to the accident and file a wrongful death claim for surviving family members.

Aviation Accident Law

Aircraft accident law can be complicated, and as a result it is important to retain a law firm prepared to help you through the process of determining what really happened and who is responsible. After an aviation accident has occurred, our team of attorneys and investigators will work as quickly as possible to preserve the wreckage, interview witnesses, evaluate liability, identify jurisdictional issues, and protect you and your family’s rights during interviews with authorities and insurance representatives.

At Bachus & Schanker, LLC in Colorado, our Aviation accident attorneys will also act immediately after a plane crash to collect crucial radar information and preserve all air traffic control recordings. It is important to start the evidence collection process as soon as possible. If our investigation is delayed, it is much more difficult to locate and preserve the evidence and witnesses needed to reconstruct the Aviation accident and prove what really caused the plane or aircraft crash.

Frequently Asked Questions

What claims do I have?

There are several different claims you may have if you have been involved in an Aviation or aircraft accident. First, you may have a claim for negligence of the pilot. Second, you may have a claim for negligence against the owner of the aircraft if the owner is different from the pilot. Third, you may also have a claim for negligent entrustment or negligent hiring, training and supervision, if the owner of the aircraft is different than the pilot of the aircraft and the owner knew or should have known that the pilot would operate the aircraft in a careless, reckless or negligent manner. Additionally, there may be claims against the manufacturer, retailer or maintenance crews of any defective or malfunctioning parts on the aircraft.

What can I recover?

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of an aviation accident or disaster you may be entitled to recover 1) economic damages, which include compensation for past and future medical expenses, past and future wage loss, impairment of earning capacity, and other out-of-pocket expenses; 2) non-economic damages, which include inconvenience, loss of quality of life, emotional distress, pain and suffering; and 3) physical impairment and disfigurement, which may include compensation for scars or physical disability as a result of the injuries you sustained in the accident. Unfortunately these types of claims often involve fatalities to loved ones; therefore, the types of damages you may recover could include damages for wrongful death. For more information about wrongful death damages, please read about wrongful death.

Do I need an investigator?

After an aviation accident has occurred, it is important to investigate the scene of the accident as quickly as possible. At Bachus & Schanker, LLC our team of attorneys and investigators will work as quickly as possible to preserve the wreckage, interview witnesses, evaluate liability, identify jurisdictional issues, and protect you and your family’s rights during interviews with authorities and insurance representatives. Our aviation accident attorneys will also act immediately after a plane crash to collect crucial radar information and preserve all air traffic control recordings. It is important to start the evidence collection process as soon as possible. If our investigation is delayed, it is much more difficult to preserve the evidence and locate witnesses needed to reconstruct the aviation accident and prove what really caused the plane or aircraft crash.